Independent and Subordinate Clauses Worksheet from WorksheetLibrary.

Let’s go through each sentence one by one.

We need to decide if the underlined part is:
- IND = Independent Clause → It can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- SUB = Subordinate Clause → It cannot stand alone; it depends on another part of the sentence.

Remember from the worksheet:
> An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone.
> A subordinate clause does NOT express a complete thought — it starts with words like “because,” “if,” “although,” “who,” “when,” etc., and needs more info to make sense.

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1. Every day teachers throw away hundred of sheets of paper that they should be recycling.
→ “that they should be recycling” tells us *which* paper — it’s describing the paper. Can you say just “That they should be recycling.”? No, that doesn’t make sense alone. So this is SUB.

2. Since landfills are getting full, our school doesn’t need to be contributing to the problem.
→ “Our school doesn’t need to be contributing to the problem.” — That’s a full sentence! It has a subject (“our school”) and a verb (“doesn’t need”) and makes sense by itself. The first part (“Since landfills…”) is the dependent part. So this is IND.

3. If our teachers recycled in their classrooms, it would set a good example for students.
→ “If our teachers recycled…” — This is a condition. You can’t stop here and have a full sentence. It needs the rest (“it would set…”) to make sense. So this is SUB.

4. Students who may never see an example of recycling at home could learn about it.
→ “Who may never see…” describes “students.” If you say just “Who may never see an example of recycling at home.” — that’s not a full sentence. It’s missing what happens because of that. So this is SUB.

5. Once these students learn to recycle, they can show their family how to do it.
→ “They can show their family how to do it.” — Full sentence! Subject + verb + object. Makes sense alone. So this is IND.

6. If every student taught their family to recycle, it would reduce the waste going to landfills.
→ Again, “If…” starts a condition. Can’t stand alone. Needs the second part. So this is SUB.

7. If you model recycling in your neighborhood, more neighbors will join in and start recycling.
→ “More neighbors will join in and start recycling.” — Complete thought! Yes, it’s IND.

8. Although you may only think of recycling paper, many other items can be recycled.
→ “Many other items can be recycled.” — Full sentence. Even though the first part starts with “Although,” the underlined part stands alone. So this is IND.

9. Some communities recycle glass and plastic which must be put in separate bins.
→ Wait — looking back at the image, #9 says: “Some communities recycle glass and plastic which must be put in separate bins.” But there’s no underline shown in the text you provided. However, based on standard formatting, likely “which must be put in separate bins” is underlined (as it’s the relative clause).
→ “Which must be put in separate bins” — describes “glass and plastic.” Can’t stand alone. So SUB.

*(Note: In your original text, #9 doesn’t show underline clearly, but context suggests “which...” is the clause being tested.)*

10. Make sure you rinse out containers that you recycle so you won’t attract bugs.
→ Likely “that you recycle” is underlined.
→ “That you recycle” — describes “containers.” Not a full sentence. So SUB.

11. Ask you local waste management company if they have special bins for each kind of waste.
→ “If they have special bins…” — This is a question embedded in a command. Can’t stand alone as a full statement. So SUB.

12. Before you know it, you will place your waste in the recycling bin without even thinking.
→ “Before you know it” — time phrase. Doesn’t express a complete idea by itself. So SUB.

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Final Answers:

1. SUB
2. IND
3. SUB
4. SUB
5. IND
6. SUB
7. IND
8. IND
9. SUB
10. SUB
11. SUB
12. SUB